Bungie wins landmark suit against Destiny 2 cheat-maker AimJunkies

Bungie has won a significant lawsuit against AimJunkies, a company selling cheats for Destiny 2, setting a potential legal precedent in the U.S. A jury in Seattle ruled AimJunkies liable for copyright infringement, awarding $63,210 in damages split among the parent company Phoenix Digital and four individuals involved.

The case, which went beyond typical settlements, could provide a reference for future legal actions against cheat makers under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. AimJunkies, disputing the verdict and a separate $4.4 million arbitration ruling for DMCA violations, plans to appeal. Bungie remains committed to combating cheats, emphasizing player protection in its ongoing legal efforts.

The AimJunkies case potentially sets a significant legal precedent for future litigation involving game cheating tools in the U.S. by demonstrating that game developers can successfully claim copyright infringement against cheat makers under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Traditionally, game companies have relied on the anti-circumvention provisions of the DMCA to combat cheat developers. However, Bungie's approach in this case went a step further by successfully pursuing a copyright claim and obtaining a jury verdict in federal court. This outcome provides a new legal framework and reference point for other game developers facing similar issues with cheat makers, suggesting that copyright claims can be a viable strategy in addition to anti-circumvention arguments5. This case may encourage more game developers to take their claims to court rather than settling, and it could lead to more stringent enforcement and legal actions against the creation and distribution of cheating tools in the gaming industry245.